The Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project, which aims to link Africa to the European market, is set to begin construction in 2024, announced on Monday Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Ekperikpe Ekpo.
While hosting a delegation of envoys from the Kingdom led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, Moha Ou Ali Tagma, Ekpo expressed Nigeria’s interest and preparedness for the project.
“I believe by 2024 we will conclude on it,” declared the Nigerian Minister.
“For the fact that the pipeline existing within that corridor currently is 20 inches, there is a proposal to increase the size after Togo to 46 inches so that the flow will be large enough,” underlined Ekpo.
Not only did the delegation visit the Minister for a bilateral discussion on cooperation and commitment towards finalizing the Trans-Atlantic pipeline project, but they also discussed the development of its fertilizer plant in Nigeria.
Ekpo stressed the need to employ the entire value chain and leverage advancements in natural gas and other vital components to optimize the fertilizer sector in the country.
The Moroccan Ambassador, for his part, hailed the project as the most important in Africa, envisaged for exporting gas to Europe. He noted that numerous meetings and MoU signings have taken place between 2016 and 2023.
The economic and technical studies for the project are expected to be completed by early 2024, said Tagma, mentioning that the participating governments may choose to kick off construction in the same year.
“The objective of this project is not to transport gas only but also to offer some opportunities for the development of the countries between Nigeria and Morocco for supplying energy,” noted the Moroccan Ambassador to Nigeria.
He revealed that Morocco’s Office Chérifien Phosphates Office (OCP), the world’s largest fertilizer exporter, had inaugurated plants in various Nigerian cities, including Kaduna, Sokoto, and Ogun states, with another facility currently under construction in Akwa Ibom.
Tagma announced that the construction of the $1.5 billion fertilizer plant project in Akwa Ibom is scheduled to commence in December, as reported by the same source.
In June 2023, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project took a major step forward with the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). These MoUs are crucial for the progress and strategic direction of the $25 billion Trans-Atlantic project.
In December 2022, Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.
The pipeline will travel for 7,000 kilometers along the West African coast, carrying almost 3 billion cubic feet of gas each day to Morocco and Europe.
The pipeline will go along a lengthy route, originating in Nigeria and spanning across elven countries, including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Cote, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania, before reaching its final destination in Morocco.
It is expected to contribute to increased energy access, higher living standards, and regional economic integration.
Passing countries for the pipeline will be able to generate adequate electricity for domestic consumption, manufacturing, and agricultural output. It should also create jobs and enhance the living standards of the people in those countries.
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